Comb foundation wiring machine



Sept. 18, 1934. .1. E. WILL 1,974,131

COMB FOUNDATION WIRING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I1 E's-1.. 2/

Sept. 18, 1934. E, w 1,974,131

COMB FOUNDATION WIRING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 J fig 7 47 69117515...

60 42 .g/ 7 xx 1 21a Sept. 18, 1934. J E w COMB FOUNDATION WIRINGMACHINE Filed Feb. 7, l954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 wi tmwo Sept. 18, 1934. J. E. WILL COMB FOUNDATION WIRING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ila-ll]- ITEIY.

auwmtoz Patented Sept. 18, 1934 UNITE STATES PATENT: OFFICE 20 Claims.

The invention relates to a new and improved machine fcr'embedding reinforcing wires in comb foundation sheets for use in beehives. Prior machines for this purpose have included means for holding and tightening a plurality of wire reaches, means for conducting a heating current through these reaches, and means for pressing afoundation sheet against the heated reaches,

causing the latter to melt their way into the foundation sheet. The three aforesaid means have been individually operated manually, and such operations have required considerable time enclosure for wiring each sheet. The present invention however, aims to provide an improved and more rapid machine in which said three means are operatively connected for joint operation in proper sequence.

In carrying out the above end, a further object is to provide a novel structure .in which the means for pressing the foundation sheet against the wire is manually operable and acts as an actuator for the wire-tightening means and/or the switchmeans which controls the wire-heating current.

Another object is to provide yieldable operating means for relatively moving two "carriers which carry the hooks or the like with which the ends of the wire reaches are engaged. Thus, after such relative movement of said carriers as to completely tighten the reaches'of wire, the operating means may move further without danger of excessively 'tensioning and breaking said reaches. Furthermore, in the present disclosure, in which the wire-tightening means and the wireheating means are brought into play by the first part of the movement of the sheet-pressing means, the yieldability of the aforesaid carrieroperating means allows continued movement :01 said pressing means after wire-tightening and heating, to discontinue heating and finally .press the foundation sheet against the heated wire.

In the :machine herein disclosed, the wire to be embedded in the foundation sheet, is .zig-zagged about relatively fixed and movable sets of hooks, and a further aim is to provide novel slidably engaged carriers :for these hooks, said carriers being so related that they, jointly form a table upon which the foundation sheet is received at the completion of the wiring operation.

Another object of the invention is to make unique provision for cutting the wire at the ends of the completely wired "sheet.

Yet another aim is to make novel provision for lifting "the wired sheet from the table.

Yet another object is to provide for successive operation of the wire-cutting means and the lifting means for the wired sheet, the cutting means being actuated by the operation :of the lifting means.

An additional object is to provide novel switch means for the heating circuit which will close fora proper interval to effect wire-heating and will then open as the pressing means is moved to its operative position, and will remain, open during return of said pressing means to its normal inactive position.

With the customary demands for foundation sheets of different sizes and thicknesses, it is important that provision be made for adjusting the machine as occasion may require, and another object is to make simple provision for ef-. fecting the desired adjustments.-

A further. and'important object is to provide a machine-so constructed that the wire may be terminated at any desired .point in the width of the foundation sheet without extending said wire across the entire width of the sheet. By so doing, the bees will not cut holes through the sheets as they often do when the wire extends entirely across the width of said sheet.

With the foregoing in View, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafterdescribed and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawmgs.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view partly broken away, showing a foundation sheet wiring machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is aside :elevation.-

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the sheet -pressing'memher being shown in its normally raised inactive position 'in this view as well as in Figs. 1 -.and'22;

Fig. 4 is a view similar toFig. 3 but cut on line -4.4 of Fig. 1, and showing the sheet-press ing member lowered to; its operative position and illustrating the wire. embedded in .the foundation sheet.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective viewparte ly broken away and in section, showing primarily the carriers for the relatively fixed andmovable wire-engaging hooks, the operating means for the carrier of the movable hooks, the adjustable connections between this carrier and its operating means, and parts of the lifting means for the wired sheet.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view partly broken away and in section, showing more particularly the holding and cutting means for one end of the wire. I

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical longitudinal sectional view on line '77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical transverse section on line 88 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view looking in the direction of the arrow A of Fig. 1, showing the clamping and cutting means for one end of the wire, and associated features of construction.

Fig. 10 is a detail transverse sectional view on line 10--10 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a detail longitudinal sectional view on line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the manner in which some of the wire-holding hooks may be constructed for adjustment.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the switch mechanism showing the manner in which it is held closed during part of the descent of the foundation sheet-pressing member.

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 but showing the manner in which the switch mechanism is opened before the pressing member completes its descent.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Figs. 13 and 14' but illustrating the manner in which the switch will not be molested upon return of the pressing memher to its normal raised position.

Fig. 161s a diagrammatic side elevation showing a relatively large foundation sheet wired by means of the machine herein disclosed.

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 16 but showing a smaller sheet wired by the use of the ma chine, the bight portions'of the wire however, along one longitudinal edge of the sheet being cut off.

In the drawings above briefly described, a form of construction is shown which has been successfully used, and while this construction will be rather specifically described, it is to be understood that numerous variations may be made within the scope of the invention'as claimed.

Two parallel longitudinal sills 20 are provided, connected by a transverse slat 21, and said sills may be supported in any desired way, for instance by resting them upon a table top or bench.

At the inner sides of the sills 20 are two vertical plates 22 which are pivoted to the rear end portions of said sills by transverse bolts or the like 23. Secured upon the upper ends of these plates 22 are two longitudinal bars 24. The rear portions of these bars 24 are secured by screws or the like 25 to a transverse bar 26 which merely rests upon the sills 20, and the front end of said bars 24 are similarly secured upon a front transverse bar 27 which likewise rests upon said sills. The frame formed by the longitudinal bars 24 and transverse bars 26 and 27, is instrumental in supporting a number of parts hereinafter described, and said frame may be upwardly swung about the pivots 23 whenever it is'desired to gain access to the lower side of any of said parts, for adjustment, repair, etc.

Fixed'laterally spaced, parallel, longitudinal bars 28 he upon the transverse bars 26 and 2'7,

being secured to the bar 26 by screws or the like 1 ablv open at the outer longitudinal edges of these bars. These slots 31 receive longitudinal fingers 32 whose front ends are secured by screws or the like 33 to a transverse bar 34 which is immediately in front of the bar 27 and is connected with the latter by hinges 35. This bar 34 is provided with two forwardly projecting handles 36 by means of which it may be rocked to swing the fingers 32 upwardly for the purpose of raising the completely wired foundation sheet from the machine, as hereinafter explained. The handles 36 may well be formed as extensions of two of the fingers 32. If desired, instead of the handles 36, or in addition thereto, a foot treadle 37 (Fig. 2) may be connected by a rope, chain or the like 38 with the bar 34, for rocking it to raise the fingers 32.

Resting slidably upon the transverse bars 26 and 27 and interposed between the fixed longitudinal bars 28, are slidable longitudinal bars 39 which cooperate with said bars 28 in forming a fiat horizontal table. Between their ends, all of the bars 39 are secured by screws or the like 40 upon a transverse bar 41 located directly behind the bar 27, said bars 39 being thus connected for movement forwardly or rearwardly in unison. The rear ends of all of the bars 39 rest upon a transverse operating bar 42, and at least one, but preferably two of said bars 39 is/are adjustably connected with said operating bar 42 so that the entire set of bars 39 while normally rigidly secured with respect to said operating bar 42, to be actuated thereby, may when advisable, be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly with respect to said operating bar. In the present showing, longitudinal slots 43 are formed in the two outermost bars 39, and clamping bolts 44 pass through these slots and through the operating bar 42, clamping plates 45 being mounted on said bolts in contact with the upper sides of said two bars 39. These clamping plates are preferably provided with tongues 46 received in the slots 43 to hold said plates against turning upon the bolts 44'.

Near their front ends, the fixed bars 28are provided with short upstanding hooks 47 to engage the wire which is to be embedded in the foundation sheetl Other short upstanding books 48 are provided on the slidable bars 39; said hooks 48 being rearwardly spaced from the hooks 47. Two wire clamps 49 are mounted upon the front ends of the side bars 24. The. wire is held in the clamps '49 and is zig-zagged about the two sets of hooks 47'-48, and when the bar 42 is pulled rearwardly,'it similarly pulls all of the bars 39, causing such movement of the hooks 48 as to tighten the wire.

Coiled tension springs 50 are secured to and extend rearwardly from the operating bar 42, the rear ends of said springs being connected with a transverse rod 51. The ends of this rod are secured to two swingable arms 52 which may well be pivoted upon the bolts 23, above described. Links 53'are pivoted to the upper ends of the arms 52 and arepivoted also to short arms 54 which" are carried by a normally raised downwardlyswingable pressing member P which is employed for pressing a foundation sheetagainst the zig-zagged wire held by the hooks 4748. In the present showing, the pressing member P comprises two parallel bars 55 pivoted upon a transverse rod orthe like 56 secured to brackets 1 57 mounted upon the rear ends of the side bars 24. A board or the like 58 is secured tothe bars 55 and is provided with a pad 59 of soft rubber or the like, to engage the foundation sheet F. V

aware-1 When the wire W has been engaged with the hooks 4 l--48:and'the pressing :mem b'er P is pulled downwardly as seen in Fig. 4, the links 53 rearwardly -=swirig the arms 52., thereby pulling upon the coiled springs and causing them to rearwardly pull upon the carrier of the hooks 48, said carried {-being, in the -present disclosure, formed by the transverse bar 42, the 'sl-idalzfle longitudinal bars 39 and the transverse connecting bar 41. Thelrearward movement of this carrier is arrested as soon :as the various reaches of the zig -zagwi-re become tight, but as the pressing member P continues to move downwardly, the springs 50 stretch and allow the necessary movement-of thearms'52 and links 53. When the pressing mem'ber P is again raised, the spr'ings '5'0 restore the arms 52, rod- 5 1, bar 42, etc., into their prior relation, and 'the contraction of these springs is limited by stop arms which are secured to said bar 42 and are provided with upturned ends 61 to abut the rod 51 (see Figs. 1 and 3).

'Mea-n-s is provided for conducting a heating current through the 'z'ig-zag wire W, said means including thetwo cla-rnps ii), aswitc'h'S, a lead wire 62 connected with one of said clamps '49, another lead wire 63 connected with the switch S, and a conducting wire 64 connecting the other of the clamps -49 with said switch. Provision is made l whereby the first part of the downward movement of the pressing member -P not only effects wire-tightening as above described, but closes the switch S3, thereby "completing a {heating circuit through the wire W "to heat the same. The

*1 switch S however, is only held closed fora proper interval and is then opened, preventing overheating of the wire, and as the pressing member P completes its descent, it presses the foundation sheet F against this properly heated wire, so

I that the latter melts its way into'the former, the

descent of the sheet being, of course, limited "by contact with the table formed by the bars '28 and '39.

As the pressing member P is restored to its "j vertical position, the books '48 and 4'7 loosen their "holdfupon "the Wire W, so that when the ends of this wire are freed, the fingers 32 may be actuated to lift the, completely wired sheet from the machine. Cutting means is provided (at the inner edges of the bars 24) for severing the wire at the ends of the wired sheet 'concurrently with elevation of the lifting fingers '32, so that the wired sheet is freed and may be easily lifted from said fingers.

In the present showing, the wire-cutting means comprises two pairs of 'shears,;each'havin'g afixed blade :65 and .a pivoted blade 66. The blades -65 are secured to th'e'inner edges of the side 'b'ars'24 by screws or the like '67 (Fig. 8) and the free ends of the pivoted blades 66 are connected by screw and slot connections '68, with the outermost of the fingers 32. The wire passes over'th'e cutting edges of the pivoted blades {66 and under the cutting edges of the fixed blades 65 as it extends from the adjacent hooks 4'7 to the wire clamps 49, and suitable wire guides 69 may be mounted on two of the fingers 32, which areconnected with the pivoted blades 66.

The switch '8 (see more particularly Figs. 2,

' 13, 14 and 15) inoludesa switch arm '70 fulries the switch S, and. to said spring strip, the i wire 63 is connected. The tension of this strip 76 normally holds the switch arm in the open position shown in Fig. '2, the pressing member P being then raised. pressing member is provided with a torwardly extending llink 7-8 which is pivoted at 79 to a bracket 80 which is prefer-ably adjustably mounted on said pressing member. The link 78 extends forwardly "and is provided with a "lateral pin :or shoe '81 which normally rests upon the spring strip 76, as 'seen in Fig. 2, a oo'iled spring 82 being provided for downwardly swinging said link '18. When the pressing member P is pulled downwardly, link '78 slides shoe 81 along the switch arm 70 and as soon as said shoe passes beyond the fulcrum of said switch arm 7D, the downward pressure of said shoe upon said'sw'itoh arm swings the latter to the *ciosed position shown in Fig. 1 3. The heating circuit is thus established for the stretched 'zig-zag wire 'W. Upon continued descent of the pressing member the shoe 81 engages a cam 8% and is thus l iited, as seen in Fig. 14, allowing the switcharmVO to again open to break the wire-heating circuit. As the pressing member P continues to move downwardly, the shoe 8'1 merely slides forwardly upon the cam 83."

A spring tongue 84 is provided to overlie the path upon which the shoe 81 proceeds forwardly,

and the front end of this tongue normally rests upon the canr83. During thesw itch-clos'ing movement of the shoe 81, this shoe moves forwardly under the tongue 84 and as the cam 83 moves said shoe upwardly, it snaps out from under the front end of said tongue '84, as will be clear from a comparison of Figs. 14 and 15. Then, upon the receding 'or return movement of the shoe 81, taking place when the pressing nreinber P is restored to its raised position, the shoe 81 merely rides over the tongue 84 "and finally drops again upon the spring strip T6, in readiness for the next operation of the "switch.

"The tongue 84 is carriedby a bracket '85 suitably secured to the side bar '24 which carries the to 'form the hooks 48. The arms of this U -shaped plate pass through slots '87 in the bars 39. Wedges 88 extend between these bars and the central portions of the plates 86, each wedge being provided with a longitudinal slot '89. Clamping screws 90 pass through the central portions of the plates 86 and through the slots 89,, and are threaded into-the bars 39. By loosening these screws and either driving the wedges 88 further inward, or partly withdrawing them,

and again tightening said screws, the hooks 48 a may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly as occasion may require, and by loosening the bolts 44, pushing forwardly or rearwardly upon the bar 41, and again tightening "said bolts 44, the

space between the hooks 48 and the fixed hooks 47 may be varied. Thus bymaking {these two adjustments, the yarious :sized sheets of foundation may be wired with the same machine.

"In operating the machine, the wire W is engaged with the hooks; clamps and-shears in the manner above explained, and the foundation sheet Fis laid upon the zig-zag wire. The press, ing member. P is now pulled downwardly and during operation of this pressing member, three functions are performed. First, the carrier for thehooks 48 is pulled rearwardly, tightening the wire W. Second, the switch S is successively closed andopened to establishthe wire heating circuit for the'proper time, and third, the member P presses the foundation sheet F. downwardly upon the heated wire, embedding the latter in the former. When the member P is again raised, the hooks loosen their hold upon the Wire W so that upon elevation of the. fingers 32, the wired foundation sheet will be lifted from the table. During such lifting, the shears -66 cut the wire at the ends of the foundation sheet and the latter may be easily taken from the machine, placing the latter in readiness for another wiring operation.

.It will be observed that with the present machine, it is not necessary to extend the wire entirely across the width of the foundation sheet. On the contrary, the wire may be terminated at any desired point in the width of the sheet. By so doing, the bees will not cut holesthrough the sheet as they often do when the wire extends entirely across the width of said sheet.

Itwill be seen from the foregoing that I have disclosed one novel and advantageous construc+ tion for carrying out the objects of the invention, but attention is again invited to the possibility of making numerous variations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A machine for wiring wax beehive foundation sheets, comprising wire tightening means, normally idle means for conducting a heating current through the wire, means for pressing the foundation sheet against the wire, and means operatively connecting the three aforesaid means for insuring joint operation thereof. I 2. A machine for. wiring wax beehive foundationsheets, comprising wire tightening means, normally idle means for conducting a heating current through the wire, means for. pressing the foundation sheet, against thewire, one of. the three aforesaid-means being manually operable, and operating means forthe other twoof said three means operatively connected with and actuated by said manually operable means.

3. A machine for wiring wax beehive foundation sheets, comprising wire tightening means, normally idle means for conducting a heating current through the wire, manually operable means for pressing the foundation sheet against the wire, and operating means for said tighteningmeans andsaid current conducting means, said operating means being operatively connected with and actuated by said. pressing means.

4. In a machine for wiring beehive founda tion sheets, a fixed set of spaced parallel bars and aslidable set of parallel bars jointly forming a table, two sets of wire holding hooks carried by the two sets of bars respectively, said sets of hooks being spaced to allow, the wire to be zig- Zagged into engagement therewith in a plane slightly above said table, and means for sliding said slidable bars to tighten the'wire.

5. In a machine for wiring beehive foundation sheets, a fixed set of spaced parallel bars and a slidable set of parallel bars jointly forming a table, two sets of wire holding hooks carried by the two sets of bars respectively, said sets of hooks being spacedto-allow the wire to be zig tion sheets, a fixed set of spaced parallel bars,

and a slidable set of parallel bars jointlyform ing a tabla-two sets of wire holding hooks carried by the two sets of bars respectively, said sets of hooks being spaced to allow the wire to be-zig-zagged into engagement therewith in'a plane slightly above said table, a transverse operating bar for said slidable bars, means for shifting said operating bar .to slide said slidable bars, and adjustable means connecting said transverse bar with said slidable bars and allowing longitudinal adjustment of the latter to vary the space between the two sets of hooks.

7. In a machine for wiring beehive foundation sheets, a fixed set of spaced parallel bars and a slidable set of parallel bars jointly forming a table, two sets of wire holding hooks carried by the-two sets of :bars respectively, said sets of hooks being spaced to. allow the wire to be zigzagged intoengagement therewith in a plane slightly above said table, a transverse bar secured to all of said-slidable bars to connect them for movement in unison, a transverse operating bar for said slidable bars, adjustable-means connecting at least one of said slidable bars with said operating bar, said adjustablemeans allowing longitudinaladjustment of the entiresetof slidable bars with respect to said operating bar to vary the space between the two sets of hooks, and means for shiftingsaid operating bar to slide said slidable bars to tighten the wire.

8. Inamachine for wiring beehive foundation sheets, relatively movable members with which to engage the ends of a wire reach, movable carrying means for one of said members, and actuating means for said movable carrying means including. elastic means allowing further movement of said-,-actuating means after complete tightening of the wire reach.

9, In a machine for wiring beehive foundation sheets, a frame and a fixed set of hooks carried thereby, a movable set of hooks related to said fixed set to allow a wire to be zig-zagged about thelhooks of the two sets, a movable carrier for the movable set of hooks slidably mounted on said frame,,a rod extending transversely .of the line of movement of said carrier, springs connecting said .rod with said carrier, means mounting said rod on said frame for shifting longitudinally of said line of movement, and means mounted on said frame for shifting said rod to effect move: ment of said springs, carrier and movable hooks to tighten the zigzag wire.

10. In a machine for wiring beehive foundation sheets, a frame and a fixed set of hooks carried thereby, a moVable set-ofshooks related to said fixed set'to allow a wire to be zig-zagged about the hooks of the two sets, a movable carrier for the 'movable'set of hooks slidably mounted on said frame, a rod extending transversely of .the "line of movement of said carrier, springs connecting said rod with said carrien'swingablearms carrying said rod and pivotally mounted on said frame on an axis transverse to the line of movement of said carrier, an operating member pivotallymounted on said frame, and :l-inkageconnecting said swingable arms with said operating member for moving said arms, rod, springs, carrier and movable hooks to tighten the zig-zag 11. In a machine for wiring beehive foundation sheets, relatively movable members with which to engage the ends of a wire reach, a pressing member pivotally mounted for swinging toward the wire to press a foundation sheet against the same, a movable carrier for one of said members, and yieldable means operatively connecting said carrier with said pressing member for moving the former to tighten the wire as said pressing member is swung toward operative position.

12. In a machine for wiring beehive foundation sheets, means for holding a wire, means for conducting a heating current through said wire including a switch, means for pressing a foundation sheet against the heated wire, and means operatively connected with said switch and said pressing means and actuated by the latter for first automatically closing and later automatically opening said switch during movement of said pressing means to operative position.

13. In a machine for wiring beehive foundation sheets, relatively movable members with which to engage the ends of a wire reach, a movable carrier for one of said members, means for conducting a heating current through the wire including a switch, a movably mounted pressing member for pressing a foundation sheet against the heated wire, actuating means for said switch actuated by said pressing member, said switch actuating means being operable to first close and later open said switch as said pressing member is moved to its operative position, and operating means for said movable carrier connected with and actuated by said pressing member, said carrier operating means including yieldable means allowing further movement of said pressing member for switch actuation after the movement of the movable carrier has effected wire tightening.

14. In a machine for wiring beehive foundation sheets, a table, means for holding a wire parallel with and close to the top of said table for embedding in a foundation sheet when the latter is pressed against said table top, and means for lifting the wired foundation sheet from the table when the ends of the wire are freed.

15. In a machine for wiring beehive foundation sheets, a table, means for holding a wire parallel with and close to the top of said table for embedding in a foundation sheet when the latter is pressed against said table top, and a plurality of fingers pivotally carried by the table for lifting the wired foundation sheet from said table when the ends of the wire are freed, said table having slots in which said fingers are normally received, and means whereby said fingers may be swung about their pivots.

16. In a machine for wiring beehive foundation sheets, a table, spaced means for holding the end portions of a wire reach directly over said table for embedding in a foundation sheet when the later is pressed against the table, means for cutting off the ends of the wire after wiring of the foundation sheet, and means for lifting the wired foundation sheet from the table, said lifting means and cutting means being operatively connected for joint actuation to first cut the wire and then lift the wired sheet.

17. In a machine for wiring beehive foundation sheets, a table, means for holding a wire parallel with and close to the top of said table for em bedding in a foundation sheet when the latter is pressed against said table top, a plurality of fingers pivotally carried by the table for lifting the wired foundation from said table, said table having slots in which said fingers are normally received, means whereby said fingers may be swung about their pivots, and shears for the ends of the wire, said shears having fixed blades carried by the table, and swingable blades carried by certain of said fingers.

18. In a machine for wiring beehive foundation sheets, a table, means for holding a wire reach parallel with and immediately over said table, means for conducting a heating current through the wire including a spring-opened switch arm and a stationary contact co-operable with said switch arm, a swingable pressing memher for pressing a foundation sheet against the heated wire, a link pivoted to said pressing member and having a shoe adapted to slide along and close said switch arm during part of the movement of said pressing member, means for moving said shoe from said switch arm before said pressing member is in fully operative position, and means for holding said shoe against re-engagement with said switch arm during return of said pressing member to inactive position.

19. In a machine for wiring beehive foundation sheets, a hook carrier having two parallel slots opening through its opposite sides, a U- shaped metal strip whose arms extend through said slots and are provided at their free ends with wire-engaging hooks, a wedge between the central portion of said U-shaped strip and said carrier, said wedge having a longitudinal slot, and a clamping screw passing through said central portion of said strip and said slot and threaded into said carrier.

20. In a machine for embedding wire reaches in a wax beehive foundation sheet, means for holding one end of the wire reaches, and a set of hooks to hold the other ends of said wire reaches, said hooks being of a size and shape to penetrate the foundation sheet during wire embedding and to then disengage from the wire reaches without injuring said foundation sheet, whereby said wire reaches need not extend throughout the entire width of the sheet.

JULIUS E. WILL. 

